December 31, 2007
Odds And Ends ... New Year's Eve Edition
First, a happy and healthy new year to all ... Eat plentifully tonight, drive carefully, and make a daily read of On Call one of your resolutions.
Today in campaign madness ...
John Edwards was asked to respond to an earlier assertion from Barack Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, that he won't have the cash to make it to the summer convention. Here's JRE's response, per NBC/NJ's Tricia Miller:
"We have plenty of money to run a serious campaign, but I just want to say how unbelievably weak it is to be arguing that you should be the candidate because you have more money than the other candidate," Edwards said during an event in Emmetsburg. "I mean, really – does that convince anybody that that's who you should caucus for? You shouldn't even be here if that's what you're looking for! I mean, we could all just have our campaign fundraising events, send the totals in, the elections are over before you ever cast a vote! I don't think that's the way this works. I think you get to actually decide who you think is strongest, who has the fight, who has the ideas, and who's ready to be president of the United States. And I think that's exactly what's going to happen on Thursday night when you go to caucus."
Larry Rasky, Joe Biden's communications director, issued a memo today going after Edwards' argument that he's the most electable. A snippet: "So who has what it takes to carry the southern vote? Well, with so much riding on his southern electability argument, “native son” John Edwards actually fares only 4 points ahead of Joe Biden in the most recent Insider Advantage poll out of South Carolina. And if one thing is certain in the 2008 race, it’s that no Democrat will win using the same 20-plus-five strategy that has failed in the last two elections. In this general election, Joe Biden has set a 15-18 red state strategy, which not only sets him apart from the top tier, but gives him the most realistic shot at victory next November."
Bay Buchanan, sister of former presidential candidate and 1996 NH primary victor Pat Buchanan, endorsed Mitt Romney.
In the 'No he didn't category' ... Mike Huckabee pulled a negative ad against Romney but then held a press conference to show it to reporters.
Here's a New Year's web message -- called "Countdown" -- from Hillary Clinton. Production value had to be, uh, small.
And the RNC react to the HRC web spot: “Senator Clinton’s new ad is nothing more than a countdown to higher taxes, socialized medicine, government growth, greater bureaucracy, and increased spending," spokesman Danny Diaz said in a statement. " For the New Year, Clinton should resolve to be upfront and honest with the American people about her reckless fiscal policies.”
And after the jump, a bonus piece from NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann, who writes a mini profile of Damon Murphy, the bartender at 801 Grand Steak and Chop House in Des Moines.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
In a town swimming with ripe political savvy and juicy ledes, there is one man in Des Moines who holds the most important piece of information at the end of every day on the trail.
Damon Murphy knows what you're drinking.
"That Hendricks," he says, pointing at the gin and tonic that he's just set on the bar in front of me. "Now I know to get you a Hendricks the minute you walk in the door."
Damon is the bar manager at the most exclusive steakhouse in the city that – for a few months every four years – becomes a mecca for the supernovas of American politics and political journalism. As the Iowa caucuses draw near, the rich burgundy-and-chocolate decor of 801 Grand Steak and Chop House becomes the stylish after-hours watering hole of choice for the national media types, campaign gurus, and rock star consultants who have descended upon downtown Des Moines.
On any given night, Damon's domain looks like a Meet The Press roundtable -- on barstools. From his post behind the bar, he hears whiffs of scotch-laced conversation about new polls and age-old stump strategies that waft amid the smoke from high-end cigars. The array of bottles behind him reflects booths that have seated news anchor Tom Brokaw, football star Dan Marino, Iowa governor Chet Culver, and the occasional presidential candidate (Fred Thompson and John Edwards have both been to 801, although Damon admits that both came on Fridays -- his rare day off.)
And if you have a favorite drink, Damon knows it.
"Knowing tendencies," says the genteel bartender, the owner of an impeccably trimmed goatee and an astounding talent for matching faces with names. "It's part of what my job entails."
With immaculate politesse, he excuses himself for a moment. Tawny port for the seasoned television journalist down the bar. 'Same thing he always gets when he's in here," Damon murmurs.
At thirty-one, Damon is a master of the art of alcohol. He worked for over seven years as a manager at the Des Moines Marriott – also highly trafficked by campaign bigshots during the most wonderful time of the political year. Two years ago, he was working at a mom-n-pop lounge in Clive when the management of 801 recruited him.
A round of White Russians for a group of newcomers. And one black Sambuca.
How much does the pre-caucus season change the pace at 801? "The clientele is a little more astute," he says. Gesturing to the candy shop of fine liquors that line the wall behind him, he lists off the top sellers among the highbrow crowd. Lemon drop martinis. Cosmopolitans. Ports. "We had a bottle of Drambuie here for a year, it seemed like, and no one ever drank it," he chuckles. "Now we've gone through a bottle and a half."
He's right about the cosmopolitans. He makes two for the couple at the end of the bar.
What happens on January 4th? "I get a day off," he grins. (He's been working six day weeks since Thanksgiving.)
What about tips? Damon says that journalists tend to tip better than campaign staffers, and that Democrats are a bit more generous than their GOP counterparts.
The reporters sipping gin and tonics to my right pay out. Damon flashes me a confidential smile and nods meaningfully at the receipt. "Twenty percent," he mouths.
He's not a natural political junkie, but he says he can't help but be interested by the chatter of his clientele. But he won't be caucusing. "I will be here," he says, shaking his head and tapping the bar smartly. He's one of those disenfranchised by Iowa's unique caucus process, which makes attendance at the evening meeting a requirement.
When the big night comes, he'll be pouring champagne toasts for the victors and bittersweet cocktails for the campaigns on the rocks.
Another Hendricks?
If you insist.
(NBC/NJ's CARRIE DANN)
Posted at 06:27 PM
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